Suspect if a Hayden deal is to happen, it'll be in exchange for either Hughes or Chalobah. I don't know how good an option he would be, is he even better than Hughes/Chalobah...not sure, but he's a better option than either of them when they're sat on the sidelines, and surely he's a better option than Cleverley at this point in time
A player that I quite like that would be available quite cheaply in January (or now) is Wahid Faghir of Vejle in Denmark, he only turned 18 last month and already has 42 league games (with 11 goals) under his belt. Was used on the wings and up front last season but seems to be playing more of a central role this season and scored a good goal last night (https://twitter.com/DanishFootball0/status/1429890426669043713). He's technically solid, likes a dribble and isn't a slouch in the air either (and at 6"1 is a good height for a striker) and is earning comparisons to Ibra in Denmark. His team are likely going to end up relegated this season and his contract expires December 2022 so would likely be available pretty cheap - although there's not much chance of us getting a work permit so would have to go on loan for a season (probably won't be ready for the PL for a couple of seasons anyway)
It depends on Louza. I don't want to write him off after a few pre season appearances and 45 minutes, but if he is half as naff as he appears and Will and Chalobah are both off, midfield has to be the priority. Right back is up there as well as Xisco clearly has no faith in Gaks and Kiko regularly picks up injuries.
I think it’s fair to say we need a CB, a RB and a CM - so maybe in addition to those I mentioned above we could find a loan for Fletcher? Or Gosling? Neither likely to feature much despite both being recent signings.
Also cheap and a striker that doesn't score goals. He is only an ACL injury and a spell in Serie A away from Pozzo bingo.
But it's even stranger than that - I can't really see how he gets a game with King, Deeney, Cucho, Sema, Pedro, Dennis, Sarr all ahead of him for the 3 spots. And that assumes we can jettison Gray and Success. Just seems a waste of wages when we have a small budget and holes elsewhere. Maybe he's a "year 2" acquisition for if we get relegated but even then why give him a 5 year deal?
I wonder if we were ever thinking of getting rid of Deeney at any point this summer? Clearly that was the idea behind getting Glenn Murray and Stipe Perica last season, although that never worked out for either of them
I think he's Deeney's replacement for next year. Not that we asked for or needed one - but my assumption is that they think he'll learn off Troy for a year and develop his game. It's a cheap punt that probably won't come off. Seems like a waste of a squad place to me.
Yep. We've now successfully replaced him with King/Dennis. I suspect they'd still like to get rid of him if they could, but have now resigned themselves to the fact that he's not going anywhere until his contract's up next summer.
I imagine we’ll find him an attacking club in the Championship who are desperate for a striker, and pray he scores a decent number of goals, before flogging him to a recently relegated side with parachute payments.
Signing a player even older than Deeney wasn’t going to work out really .. Perica looked good but then managed to get injured and Munoz didn’t fancy him I guess .
Still have Pedro to come back which might take a little while longer than expected it seems. As Burnsy says Herrera would be the cherry on top of the midfield cake. He is a top class DM. And is not just purely defensive. He will hunt for the ball, press and create with it too. So surely we ought to be looking for a fullback. Larsen did play for Udinese in their draw with Mother Corruption. But I am still not comfortable with our fullback options. Down the left Masina-Rose-Morris. Down the right Femenia- Ngakia.
Ngakia did well tonight, Rose I thought looked rusty in the first half, but good in the second. Enough for them to be under consideration to be first choice I wonder?
Someone with premier league experience and free… Jack Wiltshire? Not saying I want him, just a thought as didn’t see him on anyone’s list.
Account with 2000 followers claims Sky Italia believe we are after Alvaro Negredo, presumably to fill the Glen Murray Professorship of balding on the sidelines gracefully.
Kabak would complement Sierralta very nicely stylistically. Not the best defender but excellent on the ball.
Just putting this out there as a theory …… No Deeney in squad last night. Xisco confirmed he was not ill or injured …. Yet he needs minutes ….. Birmingham linked with Gray and well documented they are after a forward ….. It’s well known Deeney is a Blues fan and would jump at the chance of playing for them ….. Bowyer knows him …..could they be in for Deeney and not Gray ? 2+2 = ???
I still don’t get it. Nothing against him as a player but we are overloaded up front, have a small budget and he’s going to be way down the pecking order.
Didn't do that well back at Bournemouth last season, so there's no indication that he'd do well a league above anymore. I'm sure if his wage demands are appropriate, a Championship club will snap him up though
He's already stated his concern about playing time. If he went on loan he would still get his wages but also gets to play for the team he supports
And we sent an actual RW out on loan - just to play Fletcher there last night and who has never, ever been a RW. It seems like the club are actually actively trying to put square pegs in round holes presently.
